George graybill and john p



No. 751,634. PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904. G. GRAYBILL 6: J. P. ODEN.

RHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1903.

UNITED STATES Patented. February 9, 1904.;

PATENT OFFICE.

RHE OSTAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 751,634, dated February 9, 1904.

Application filed June 8, 1903. :Serial N0."160,G04=. (N model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE GRAYBILL and JOHN P. ODEN, citizens of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rheostats, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in rheostats or electric controllers, and has for its ob ect to provide a simple and durable device by which the strength of the electric current supplied to the consuming device may be regulated and controlled as desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which i Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through a rheostat constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing it applied to the socket of an incandescent lamp, for which use it is particularly adapted. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view on the line A A of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding fiber or other non-conducting material fitted closely about the said cylinder 2. The outer end of said cylinder 2is provided with an annular flange 4, that projects laterally beyond the insulated covering 3 and contacts with the inner surface of a tube or sleeve 5, that is arranged concentric with the said tube 2. This outer tube or sleeve 5, which is electrically connected by the flange 4 with the aforesaid tube 2, is electrically connected with a suitable contact in or forming part of a plug 6,such as is commonly applied to an incandescent lamp. Said tube or sleeve 5 is provided with a coating or outer casing 7 of insulating material and has its end adjacent the socket l bent inward to bear against the insulator-casing 8 of the inner tube 2. Said tube 2 and sleeve 5 are thus telescopically connected, and the tube is adapted to be moved longitudinally in the sleeve without interfering with the electrical connection between said parts.

Within the inner tube 2 is arranged a cylinder 8, of'porcelain or other non-conducting material, and within said cylinder is placed a suitable quantity of finely-powdered material 9 of such nature as to offer resistance to the passage of an electric current therethrough. Any suitable material may be employed for this 4 purpose, although it is believed that graphite will be found most desirable. The outer end of said resistance-material container 8 is closed by a disk 10, of insulating material, provided with a central passage or aperture through which extends a rod or pin 11, of metal or any suitable conducting material, which is attached to the plug 6. Said pin or rod 11 is electrically connected with a suitable contact carried by the plug 6, which contact is insulated from the contact on said plug with which the outer tube or sleeve 5 is electrically connected.

The pin or rod 11 extends centrally through the receptacle 8 and resistance material there in and is of substantially the same length as said receptacle, whereby when the tube is in its upper or innermost position the free end of said rod will contact with a contact 12, arranged in the socket 1 and insulated from the side wall thereof. When a lamp 13 is inserted in the socket 1, one of the filament-terminals thereof will be in electrical connection with the contact 12 and the other with the wall of said socket, and consequently with the inner tube or cylinder 2.

If the tube 2 and sleeve 5 are in such relation that the rod or pin 11 bears against the contact 12, it will be seen that the full current will pass through the filamentof the lamp 13 and the same will therefore emit the brightest possible light. By moving the sliding tube 2 outwardly relative to the outer stationary tube 5 the rod or pin 11 will be drawn away from the contact 12 and the electric current will be compelled to pass through the body of resistance material that is between the free end of said rod or pin and said contact 12. As the amount of such resistance material between the free end of said rod and the contact 12 varies according to the adjustment of the sliding tube 5, and as the strength of the current supplied to the lamp depends upon the amount of resistance, it will be seen that by moving the sliding tube 2 the power of the lamp 13 can be varied and controlled as desired.

Various means may be provided for adjusting the tube 2 longitudinally of the tube 5. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated a rack or toothed bar 14 is secured to and extends longitudinally of the tube 2. IVith said rack engages a pinion 15, mounted on a shaft 16, journaled in and projecting laterally beyond the sleeve 5 and provided at its outer end with a thumb-piece or handle 17, by means of which it can be readily rotated. Said shaft and thumb-piece may be formed of insulating material. By turning said shaft 16 it will be seen that the tube 2 can be adjusted to any desired position relative to the tube 5 and held in such adjusted position.

It will be apparent that instead of inserting a lamp 13 in the socket 1 a suitable plug containing the terminals of an electric circuit may be thus inserted, and by the present invention the current passing through such plug can be regulated as desiredthat is, the improved current-controller or rheostat herein illustrated and described can be used in connection with numerous other electric devices and apparatus than incandescent lamps, which have been selected for illustration.

Having thus described the invention and without intending to limit it to the exact details of the embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a socket containing two electric contacts insulated from each other, an insulated tube or cylinder of conducting material attached to said socket and electrically connected with one of the contacts thereof, an insulated sleeve surrounding and electrically connected with one of the contacts thereon, means for moving said tube longitudinally of the sleeve, two electric contacts carried by said sleeve andinsulated from each other, a rod or pin electrically connected with onev of said contacts on the sleeve and extending into said tube and adapted when the sliding tube is in its innermost position to bear against the second contact in the socket, and a body of resistance material in powdered form arranged within said tube about the said rod or pin, said resistance material being insulated from the said tube within which it is arranged.

2. In a device for the purpose described, the

combination of two concentrically-arranged telescopicallyconnected tubes which are in electrical connection in every adjusted position, a plug connected to one end of the outer tube and provided with two contacts, insulated from each other, and one of which is electrically connected with the body of said tube, a conducting rod or pin electrically connected with the other contact in said plug and extending into and longitudinally of the inner tube, a body of finely-divided resistance material arranged within said inner tube about said rod or pin therein, said resistance material being insulated from the said inner tube, a socket provided with two contacts, insulated from each other, one of which is arranged in the path of said rod or pin and. the other being electrically connected with the said inner tube, and means for adjusting one of said tubes relative to the other and maintaining it in any adjusted position.

3. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a socket, a tube electrically connected with said socket, a contact arranged within said tube and socket and insulated therefrom, a sleeve loosely surrounding and electrically connected with said tube, a plug connected with and closing the outer end of said sleeve, said plug having two contacts, insulated from each other, one electrically connected with said sleeve and the other adapted to bearagainst the contact within the said tube and socket, a body of resistance material arranged within said tube over the socket-contact therein, and through which the aforesaid contact on the plug is adapted to pass, as the sleeve is moved longitudinally of the tube, and means for moving said tube longitudinally of the sleeve and maintaining it in any adjusted position.

4. The herein-described rheostat consisting of two telescoping tubes, electrically connected in every adjusted position, two contacts secured to the inner tube one being electrically connected with said tube and the other insulated therefrom, two contacts carried by the outer tube and insulated from each other, one of said contacts on the outer tube being adapted to bear against one of the contacts on the inner tube when the sliding tube is retracted, and a body of resistance material arranged within and insulated from the inner tube and through which the last said contact on the outer tube moves as said inner tube is adjusted longitudinally of the outer tube.

5. The herein-described rheostat consisting of a relatively stationary tube of conducting material, a body of resistance material arranged in and insulated from said tube, a contact arranged at one side of said resistance material and insulated from said tube, a sleeve of conducting material surrounding said tube, means for moving the tube rela- IIO tive to the sleeve, said sleeve having a con- In testimony whereof we have signed our TO stant electrical connection with the tube, and names to this specification in the presence of two contacts carried by said sleeve and insutwo subscribing witnesses.

lated from each other, one of said contacts cX- GEORGE GRAYBILL tending into the sald reslstance materlal 1n the JOHN P ODEN tube, and the amount of such material between said. contact and the aforesaid contact Witnesses: at one side of said material being varied as the S. MYER WILLIAMS, tube 1s ad usted longltudlnally of the sleeve. ELLEN M. WVELLENsInK. 

